Weren’t IMG paid to sell them rather than IMG buying and then selling them on.

But hardly anyone has access to Premier Sports.

It's a daft move IMO unless Premier have paid big, big money, as the only people watching the games will be people who are already RL fans.

Having said that, it's great news that the BBC are involved for the foreseeable.

There's obviously going to be no reports or previews on sky sports news either. Sky don't want to know about sports they don't show. They barely touched F1 before they won the rights to live broadcasts

One game a week on the BBC and the rest shoved away on Premier Sports with it's 7 subscribers. No doubt BBC's highlights programme will be at 01:15 on a Monday morning on the red button too.

If games are too easy to watch on the sofa, fewer fans attend games...

Isn't it possible that sky may have gave the RFL no choice but to go to premier. Considering how sky passed in the 4 nations last year I think they made it clear they only want deals that involve the big international matches.

They could have said they were not interested in the minor games so the RFL were left with premier sports. The chances of premier paying big money for this are very slim..

It all depends how much money they have got for the coverage. If it's nothing, then it's not that great a deal. League, whilst it might get okay viewing figures on the BBC, is never going to be one of those sports that gets mass media support so the tournament will never gain the traction and hype it needs to in order to leave a positive legacy.

I think at this stage holding a tournament that doesn't have completely embarrassing attendances (Doubt we'll achieve that) and doesn't bankrupt the RFL is probably the best they can hope for.

Exactly, if every game was on freeview people would be hyperventilating about empty stadiums. Can't win!

Well as one of those seven subscribers I'm highly delighted.

Well done to all involved getting some quality matches back on the BBC.

Does it worry anyone that Sky weren't interested? Hopefully it doesn't indicate their interest in League is not what it once was.

Its not a bad move, although its a shame some of the other group game won't be on Sky but at least they'll be showing highlights on the beeb.

Good news about the 4Ns as well.

Plus we'll have Dave Woods, Balding, Millward and Noble instead of Eddie and Stevo, although I hope they keep Ray French away from the comentary box.

I'm convinced Sky will have wanted the deal. Too bad...